187; 7 Churches; Laodicea; Comfort and Convenience before Jesus
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Final letter
The most difficult of the letters. Most like the American church.
Are we wealthy?
So how do we listen? Where we similarities, we repent. Where we are not similar, we learn. Where there is hope, we rejoice.
Laodicea
Black wool
Banking center - money changing center
When the town was destroyed by a earthquake, Rome offered government help. They told Caesar, “thanks but no thanks.”
They made a special eye medicine that was supposed to remove eye infections. It was expensive and in high demand.
One major problem. No water
There were hot springs that were thought to be medicinal down the road in Hierapolis.
Colossae had cold water than ran off from the mountains.
Laodicea had to pipe water in six miles. No natural hot or cold water. There’s was filled with minerals and nasty tasting. Not to mention, if you had to pipe water in, you were never secure as a city.
What will Jesus say to them?
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Text
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.
The Amen
We say amen when the prayer is ending or when the preacher says, “In conclusion.”
To God’s promises, we say amen = let it be because you’ve said it.
We also say amen as a way of binding ourselves to what is being prayed or promised.
Jesus says, “I am the Amen.” He is the ultimate “yes” of God. He is faithful and true one.
There are a million voices clamoring for our attention, but God’s yes always comes through Jesus Christ. He is the one to be trusted.
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Rev 3:
Jesus says to Laodicea, “I know what you’re doing!”
Sometimes people will talk about this from a let’s get hot and excited sort of revival thing but that isn’t what Jesus is saying here.
Remember; hot was good for healing, cold was good for drinking.
Jesus uses the picture of their nasty water and says, “I’m going to vomit you!”
This scares me! Jesus hasn’t said they are doing anything wrong. Somehow, this church makes Jesus gag! Judgment is falling on this church.
There is no mention of a sin-struggle
There is no mention of inappropriate worship services
There is not mention of bad theology.
What is it then?
17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Self-sufficiency and complacency have no place in the Christian life.
This is a town that didn’t need Rome’s help and the church didn’t need God’s help.
Notice the flow of their statement: I am, I have, I don’t need. Jesus corrects them and says you are...
This is a place that looked at their situation instead of God. They are proud of the fine clothes they make, but Jesus says they are naked. They are proud of their great eye medicine, but Jesus says they are blind. They are so proud of their great wealth, but Jesus says they are bankrupt!
Their situation told them they were wealthy, they made fine clothes, and they were famous for their eye medicine. Jesus says, “The reality is; your poor, you can’t see, and you don’t have any clothes.”
Consider Sardis, they had nothing but Jesus tells them they are rich!
The Laodiceans have everything but Jesus says they have nothing!
What’s the difference?
The poor Sardians rely on Jesus for everything, while the Laodiceans can go to church and sing and clap and feel good but at the end of the day, they thought they were getting along just fine.
I don’t know about you, but I look at that and I get concerned.
The similar struggle of the American church.
Do I really need Jesus?
Do I recognize my need of Jesus in my work?
My employment and wages are a gift from him to be stewarded and used for his glory. The encounters I have through employment are for him
Do I recognize my need of Jesus in the way that I approach my marriage?
My spouse is...
Do I recognize my need of Jesus in the way I parent?
My children...
Do I recognize my need of Jesus in my finances?
Do I recognize my need of Jesus in the way I approach friendships?
This past week...
Do you?
They have relied on everything but Jesus. He is harsh and yet he is compassionate. He encourages the church to repent and return to him.
He urges them to buy their gold from him. Then they will have everything they need. The irony of it all is you cannot buy something from Jesus; he gives it freely. When we place our faith in him, he gives us everything we need!
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Rebuke and discipline - not punishment.
When we fail in our walk, divine love always leads to discipline.
Jesus says, “Here I stand at the door and knock...”
He is speaking to the church! He isn’t speaking to unbelievers!
If any one hears my voice… Christ is calling and waiting for a response. He is speaking to the church in general but calling for individuals to respond.
Jesus is giving the church an opportunity to be renewed by an active relationship with Jesus. He’s not talking about conversion.
He says, “I’ll share a meal with you.” How do we share a meal with Christ?
Without an ongoing recognition of our need of Jesus, our communion is worthless.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
To the one who is victorious.
Did you notice that victory in Jesus, means relying on him!
Again, Jesus promises the ultimate, to share everything Jesus has.
Close - prayer